Gabby Garza allowed just one run in two softball victories on Saturday and the SBCC offense burst out with 23 runs and 22 hits at the Golden West Tournament in Huntington Beach. The Vaqueros routed College of the Desert 16-1 in a five-inning game and posted their first shutout of the year with a 7-0 triumph over San Diego Mesa.
Garza tossed a five-hitter with seven strikeouts in the morning as Santa Barbara (3-12) snapped a nine-game losing streak by erupting for six runs in the second frame and 10 in the fifth. She came back to throw a three-hitter with five strikeouts against Mesa. The freshman from San Bernardino helped herself by going 5-for-8 on the day with four runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Erin Breck was 3-4 with two doubles and three RBIs in the opener while Sierra Van Olphen went 3-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Kellee Venturi was 2-4 with a double. In the second game, Garza was 3-4, Breck and Lauren Gniadek were 2-4 and Venturi was 2-3.
The 23 runs matched the Vaqueros’ season total for the first 13 games. SBCC had nine doubles on Saturday and has 40 hits in its last four games. The defense didn’t commit an error in 12 innings.
“We’re excited,” coach Paula Congleton said. “This is a great way to get rolling after all those losses. When you play solid ball defensively and offensively, good things will happen. We need to carry this momentum back into conference.”
SBCC 16, DESERT 1
SBCC ……………… 060 0(10) — 16 11 0
Desert …………….. 000 01 — 1 5 0
Garza and Crawford; Busch and Winn. W–Garza (1-9). L–Busch.
2B–SB: Breck 2, Crawford, Gniadek, Van Olphen.
SBCC 7, SAN DIEGO MESA 0
SBCC …………………….. 014 101 0 — 7 11 0
San Diego Mesa ……. 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
Garza and Crawford; Marrow and Chantier. W–Garza (2-9). L–Chantier.
2B–SB: Garza, Breck, Gniadek, Venturi.
